Toyota will unveil a next-generation Corolla at the Geneva motor show in March, updating Australia’s best-selling passenger car.

The Corolla - sold in Europe as the Auris - will share its Toyota New Global Architecture underpinnings with the recently updated Prius hatch, new C-HR crossover and the all-new Camry.

Designed to be lighter and stiffer than before, the TNGA hardware should make the new Corolla safer and sharper to drive than its predecessor.

Toyota promises the model will feature “a more dynamic exterior design” than its predecessor, joining the new Camry in blending sharp lines with bold design features that represent an edgier school of thought than conservatively-styled predecessors.

Technical details surrounding the model are slim - we will know more when the car is presented to the public on March 6.

But you can expect Corolla will offer a strong safety suite including autonomous emergency braking as standard, as it is almost impossible to earn a five-star safety score without the technology on board.

We also wouldn’t be surprised to see Toyota’s efficient new 1.2-litre turbo four-cylinder motor and CVT automatic transmission to make an appearance under the bonnet, perhaps offering the same 85kW and 185Nm as the C-HR.

Toyota has confirmed the car will feature an all-new hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-litre engine in what it says marks the debut of its new "dual hybrid strategy".

It has outlined details of a new-generation CVT automatic that will be used across a number of models, including the Corolla, that features a conventional launch gear as well as moving pulleys. It says the hybrid transmission, dubbed Direct Shift CVT, achieves "powerful acceleration while at the same time resolving the momentary sluggish feeling that was previously present during accelerator operation."

Toyota’s push to create more desirable models for enthusiasts could result in a “Gazoo Racing” Corolla hot hatch to go on sale alongside the supercharged, WRC-inspired Yaris GRMN already offered in Europe, as well as the upcoming Supra sports coupe.

While it may be wishful thinking on our part, such a model could employ a version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre unit that makes 180kW and 350Nm in a range of Lexus models, potentially giving Toyota a genuine alternative to the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf GTI and the upcoming Hyundai i30 N.